Doctors are urging people in Stone not to be caught out by the early Easter holiday when most GP surgeries will be closed.
In particular they should:
- Make sure they have enough of their usual prescription medicines
- Stock up on over-the-counter remedies and first aid items from your local pharmacy
- Know which services are available even if your GP surgery is shut
[box type=”shadow” ]Dr Paddy Hannigan, Chair of NHS Stafford and Surrounds Clinical Commissioning Group and a GP in Stafford, said: “During Bank Holidays we tend to see an increase in calls to our out-of-hours GP service from people who have simply forgotten to re-order prescription medicines such as asthma inhalers. It’s not a good use of this valuable service and can cause delays for someone who really needs to see a GP.
“A quick visit to your local pharmacy now can also ensure you are well-equipped to deal with a range of conditions like colds and flu, indigestion, back pain, coughs, headaches and migraines and skin complaints such as dermatitis. You can also stock up on items to treat minor injuries.”[/box]
Help and advice is available 24-hours-a-day by ringing NHS 111 (just dial 111) for free.
For more information on opening times for services over Easter visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search
For opening hours of local pharmacies visit https://www.staffordsurroundsccg.nhs.uk/news-events/246-easter-pharmacy-opening-times
